South China Sea coral reefs in hot water

Last year, the 2015-16 El Nino helped kill off two-thirds of shallow-water corals in the northern part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and an unprecedented second year of bleaching is underway now. -AFP filepic

PARIS: A spike in water temperature lasting only days bleached all the coral in a South China Sea atoll, and killed 40% of the tiny organisms within weeks, researchers reported Thursday.

The 6°C surge at Dongsha Atoll in June 2015 was produced by a perfect storm of factors: the time of year, a record El Nino, and a rare lull in local winds and waves.